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AN 






ORATION 



COMMEMORATIVE OF THE 



CHARACTER OF PATRICK HENRY. 



HENRY H. TATOR, ESQ. 



Qui noil libere veritalem prominciat proditur est veritatis. — TacUut. 



<<f>^ 



S'-',.: 



;*o$L 3 8 60 X 



COPT-BIOHT SECURED. 



■ / 



ALBANY: 

JOEL MUNSELL, 58 STATE STREET. 

1852. 



ay 



DEDICATORY EPISTLE. 



Standing on an oaken dock in a clear port, 
and observing at a distance between the ocean 
and the sky, a speck approaching, slowly trans- 
forming and enlarging itself to a stately ship, 
till soon its mighty presence lifts up the feelings 
with the sight of a sublime object of human 
skill and genius, is pleasant ; yet to stand on 
the dock of time, look out on the sea of finite 
affairs, and behold rising to view a youth, the 
royal prince of Heaven's King, whose developing 
genius fast becomes mightier and mightier, till 
the world gives its heart to his heart, and its 
hand to his hand, and is led God-ward, like a 
bride to the altar, is even more pleasant. Ora- 
tors are the guides of freedom and the hand- 
maids of republics. Oratory is an art which 
the highest refinements of civilization will ne- 
ver fail to preserve, employ, enjoy and perfect. 
If all men were orators, then surely, every ora- 
tor would have a most appreciating auditory of 
his art ; for who can appreciate an orator like 
an orator ! yet there are many we know not 
possessing the practical art of glowing and im- 
pressive speech, who can, notwithstanding, 
from their inner souls, sympathize with an ora- 
tor and follow him to sublimest heights. The 



lens of the camera obscura, bring the rays of 
light irom external things to a focus, thereby 
presenting a beauteous picture of them in mini- 
ature ; thus the reflections of a superior mind 
draw to it the laws which govern the relative 
and positive relations of mind to matter, and 
of matter to mind, till the harmony and beau- 
ty of nature luay be seen in its clear and ex- 
poundatory works. Human eloquence is sweet- 
er than sphere music, and eloquent thoughts 
are eternal treasures from mind to mind. This 
pledge of my admiration for the eloquence and 
patriotism of Patrick Henry, I dedicate to my 
firmly patriotic friend, and to a man indeed, 
ranking among the most accomplished orators 
of the age, 

. Prof. CHAS. WHITNEY. 



ORATION. 



Friends of Universal Freedom : 

Studying the nature and character of the 
earth, ascertaining its uses, and liolding- Ibrth 
its beauties, till they are beheld and admired 
universally, is a delightful duty. Looking into 
the Heavens, discovering the bodies of useful 
beauty which compose them, and explaining 
their characteristics and the object for which 
they were created, is also a duty of surpassing 
delight. Examining the human system, pry- 
ing into its complex, yet perfect mechanism so 
handsomely wrought by the Divine hand, and 
presenting its explanatory counterpart in some 
ibrm whereby it shall arrest and absorb a uni- 
versal attention, is truly a happifying duty. 
Yet expounding the marshal-like parts, of a 
great and noble character, garnishing them by 
judicious praise, and thereby induce others to 
reproduce them in the various pursuits of life, 
is of many pleasant duties the most pleasant. 
It is the general character of every man which 
exerts the very considerable influence, for rais- 
ing up or tearing down the Avelfare of mankind. 
Men of reflection and study have characters, 
whose influence is perchance more remote and 
less immediate, though scarcely less positive 
and powerful over others, than men of action 
and material enterprise. In commemorating 
great characters, a commemorator's first duty 



6 

is, to learn what were tlie mental elements 
which composed their genius; second, what 
were their chief practical virtues of heart ; 
lastly, what were the grand influential works 
they projected or achieved. Commemorators 
should absorb the lesser in the greater merits 
of those whom they commemorate, as smaller 
raindrops are absorbed by the larger ones in 
their descent to the earth ; for true it is, that 
generalities more quickly and easily become 
actualities to the human mind, than particu- 
lars, more especially when the latter are so nu- 
merous and intricate, as not to be readily un- 
derstood, as they often are, when connected 
with the arts and sciences. 

Patrick Henry's boyhood glided away with- 
out his seeming to be eager, as to the manner 
in which its moments should be employed ; yet 
without doubt, though not boiind down to books, 
nor confined in tedious school rooms, he still 
learned much by observation that was inappre- 
ciably useful, and by an unshowy reflection, 
became in reality much wiser than men thought 
him to be. His inherited genius found teach- 
ers in the elements, school-mates in his own 
thoughts, and eloquence in them all. He act- 
ed as thoutjh he thouorht it far better to seem a 
dull boy, than to be in the future, and in fact, a 
inan of dullness ; and to develop his body in 
youth, and let his mind subsequently develop 
itself Certainly the budding fruits of young 
Henry's mind showed feeble signs of becoming 
at their maturity, such delicious food to nourish 
and support an embryonian republic as they 
w^ere found to be. There are those who have 
been intellectually great when young, who in 
mature life, arose to the highest intellectual 
standard ; and those also who have been Intel- 



lectually bright in youth, who in after years, 
declined in mental power ; and those too who 
have been addleminded in childhood, and acute 
minded in age ; so that youth sometimes is, and 
sometimes is not, the forerunner of a glorious 
or an inglorious manhood. Francis Bacon was 
a bright youth, and his manhood was in point 
of mental brightness Avithout rival ship. Her- 
mogenes was brilliant when young, but subse- 
quently became dull in his art as a rhetorican. 
Cato, the younger, manifested rather indifler- 
ent mental capacity during his early years, not- 
withstanding which, he afterwards became a 
man of learning and wisdom, an heroic gene- 
ral, profound statesman, and gracious ruler. 
A wise youth will make a still wiser man, il' the 
wisest mode is taken by him to live up time ; 
and a good youth will make a still better man, if 
the best steps are made by him to get through 
life. A child left to work out its own nature, 
will mature its body and mind together, nor 
exercise either too much for the health of the 
other. Children who feel a pressing inspiration 
of soul, incline not to let their real power be 
known, till they feel able to surpass all others 
in some specific attempt, and thus spend their 
early hours in mute reflection and silent obser- 
vation, till they feel assured by something 
within them, that their good time has come ; 
for real greatness ever leaves mediocrity far be- 
hind it, in its first true mental ettbrt. The man 
who shows himself to be inspired, by the pow- 
er, beauty and truthfulness of his productions, 
was the child inspired, also, though not shown 
to us in any wise ; for genius is possessed at 
birth, if possessed at all by any human being; 
and it may be developed by judicious culture 
to an unknown degree, though it can not be 



acquired in the least degree, by any means 
known to man. The tremulous leaf does not 
create the wind, it merely informs us that it 
exists and has riiotion ; likewise the works of 
mind do not originate it, they only show us 
that it is in existence, and has a self-developing 
action. 

Mr. Henry's capital with Avhich to commence 
professional life, or indeed any life, consisted 
of a kind Avite and lovely children, entire pov- 
erty, a few friends, ordinary acquirements in 
classical learning, quite a limited knowledge 
of the practice of his proti?ssion, though rather 
conversant with its principles: a sound physi- 
cal constitution, and uncommon endowments 
of native intellect with imagination, and a cor- 
rect and extensive knowledge of men. He 
arose to public attention by displaying a decid- 
ed capacity for popular eloquence, in the de- 
fence of a suitor's just cause, and in his advo- 
cacy of colonial independence. Unlike The- 
seus, he sought no demolishing of cities, nor 
slaughtering of enninent public citizens, who 
might impede his progress toward fame and 
Avide extending notoriety ; yet like the noble 
Romulus, who also rose from the deepest ob- 
scurity to a rare and goodly repute, he applied 
his native powers to elevate and dignify the 
State, to better the general condition of a na- 
tion, to obtain for his country the most natural 
and enlarged liberty, and to establish a republic 
in Avhich every citizen might enjoy private and 
public advantages and priAdleges equally. Not 
Avhat Ave are at the opening of life so much as 
what Ave are at its close, is it, that will embalm 
our memories in the bosom of our children, 
and make us acceptable in the World above. 
An obscure birth Avith a world lamented death, 



is more creditable than a world-hailing birth, 
followed by a death of self- wrought ignominy. 
Two strong hands, an enlightened head, and 
an aimable heart, ibrni the finest setting up in 
life a young man can enjoy. Being born to 
galbian wealth is a feeble step towards great- 
ness ; inheriting a princely renown is no assu- 
jance of forthcoming visef'ulness ; and a good 
man can be made up of nothing but good deeds 
performed by himself. The sun of itself, has 
no power to withhold its allighting beams from 
the family of planets which surround it; thus 
an entirely good man, can not avoid acting 
kindly towards those around him, it being a 
necessity of his very existence and superior 
organization. Providence in his power might 
have created man to suffer absolute and eternal 
pain, rather than to have endowed him with 
faculties for unceasing pleasure ; thus a na- 
tion's chosen hero and champion, could with 
his almost limitless power, bind it beneath him, 
or refuse to be its pilot and protector in the 
fiercest storm of State trouble, and thereby 
consign it to distress, rather than confer on it 
safety and delight. In no wise can a man 
make known his deserving of power, so advan- 
tageously, as when conferring blessings on those 
who grant him his power, and that too in pre- 
cise ratio as they grant it to him. Earthquakes 
are imbecile, floods are weak and impotent, 
conflagrations are puerile and powerless, when 
compared with the next to almighty capacity 
and power of a wise, virtuous, and eloquent 
inan, to awaken its fears of sin, or arouse to 
deeds and emotions of purity, the vast human 
family. 

Mr. Henry's success as a lawyer was, we 
know, proportionate to bis display of legal 
2 



10 

ability and learning, of experience in practice, 
and of oratorical capacity ; the first quality 
and possession he displayed at the outset to 
an astonishing degree, so far as applying the 
principles of law to the matter and case in 
question and contest went ; tlie second of 
course time and repeated trial rendered him 
adejDt and skillful in ; and the third power in 
him, was like the rhetorical art of Isceus, ever 
ready for use and ever excellent when used. 
With opponents he was fair, if kind, honor- 
able and courteous actions towards them may 
be called fairness ; nor did he trespass on, or 
restrain, the rights of another in any way to 
gain illegitimate success for himself; for with 
him, as with every true man, magnanimity 
was no minor characteristic. However, when 
opposed he was tbund strong ; when assailed, 
he became a dauntless self-defender ; when 
oppressed, he shewed himself giantly and irre- 
sistibly strong; when triumphant, he was mild 
and unpharasaical; and when triumphed over, 
(which was of rare occurrence) he admired 
and spoke well of the tact and skillfulness, 
rather than enveiled the merit of the victor. 
Distinguished success in the business in which 
a man enlists his faculties, though not always 
attained, is always to be striven for. 

To observe a plant leave forth in spring 
time, and ere long bend beneath fragrant 
flowers, as its true and graceful laurels is a 
precious sight; yet to see the young set out 
in spring life, and soon behold them men 
among men, beloved by the lovely, prospering 
among those who prosper, and ladened at 
length with the honors and enjoyments of life, 
is a scene of transcendent beauty and pre- 
cioxisness. 



11 

Success adds \riiid to wing, and courage to all skill, 

Buoys up the struggling youth, leaving it higher still. 

Woo success in youth, wed her grace in age. 

Youth has her heart, her hand belongs to age. 

The steel-forked rod, splits the electric ball. 

Breaking its force, protects itself and all 

Within the unharm"d mansion ; thus with young 

Though well armed men, what ere begun 

Breaks (iery opposition through, unscathed indeed. 

Nor withal even match'd. 

Nerveful spirits, bruised by failure; like hares 

Slightly wounded by archers glancing arrows, 

Bound stronger and swifter on their course. 

Toil is chief satellite to the globe success. 

Ease leads to failure, and failure to distress. 

It is not in having such great powers of 
mind, it is in using tlie best we have for the 
best purposes which they can be used, that 
constitutes the man. A young man who by in- 
experience and its attendant missteps becomes 
webbed in difficulties, and falls in his early 
wrestlings with the world, to gain a master 
position therein, and then only makes an effort 
sufficient to place himself merely a foot, erect, 
and scarce manlike again, instead of resolving 
and re-resolving all through his body and soul, 
to eventually become the Milo of men ; resem- 
bles that sportsman, not conversant with the 
woodbinds through which he is passing and 
without compass, loses his true course, becomes 
bewildered, discouraged and prepares to die, 
instead of buoying up against misfortune, 
rising like one nerved in might, using the sun 
for a compass, marking out some plausible 
course for himself, marching onward with the 
confidence of safety and final success, never- 
theless with a bosom filled with divine love and 
dependence. 

Mr. Henry's influence as a practical states- 
man was exceedingly great, as it was indis- 



12 

pensably usel'ul to the success of the early 
struggle of the injured colonies in their faith 
created cause of civil and religious freedom. 
He was no man to stand in alcove, and let his 
fellow-countrymen toil on in the contest of 
human rights, and then if successful to come 
in for his unearned share of their life sealed, 
and blood-written liberfies. Like Publicola of 
Athens, his country needed help, and he was 
ready to give it all the aid in his power, freely 
and unfeignedly, and also to meet whatever 
fate might await him if required for his coun- 
try's benefit. His all-swaying speaking powers, 
were devotedly employed in behalf of projecting 
and enacting some plan, that would awaken 
his countrymen by mutual resolve, to resist 
British stringency of government, and to con- 
ceive, propound, and adopt a wiser and more 
acceptable one for themselves. His eloquent 
exposure of the ignoble connivances of England 
against the colony, fired up every American's 
self-dependent feeling ; and his bold torch of 
speech lit up the chandelier of liberty on the 
continent of America. 

A country can scarcely have a greater blessing 
than an eloquent and sagaciously patriotic 
statesman. The light castle may illume the 
mariner's watery path, and shew him the 
whereabouts of the ocean's channel, yet can 
not compel him to follow it; likewise the 
beaming sagacity of a statesman may be shed 
over his country as its guardian covmcils yet 
can not compel it to put them in practical use. 
A statesman's fame and memory should be as 
dear to the state, as liberty itself Unearned 
fame is a transient blessing, and when it leaves 
its claimant, the rubbish of broken hearted 
vanity and of melancholy memory, are all that 



13 

remain. Of many kinds of excellent fame that 
of high eloquence in the noblest cause excels 
them all. A noble fame is verily not a mound 
of sand, to be washed down by every descend- 
ing show^er of successive rivalship, thereby 
becoming gradually reduced to a ii ediocratic 
level ; it is rather a peering mountain, high as 
eternal light, solid as fiery rock; successfully 
bearing up forests of generations who cling 
around it from base to brow, defying all time 
and trial and death, balancing the earth, and 
joining earth to heaven, still overlooking from 
its cloudless heights, a Avorld up-gazing in 
astonishment, veneration and delight. 

Mr. Henry's personal attractions as an orator, 
were numerous and great ; his noble form, 
stood boldly and upright in debate, like Achilles 
in mid-council with the gods; his hand moved 
like a wand incarnate, as confirming witness 
of the power of his argument, and the pro- 
priety of his cavise ; his look on momentous 
occasions, was like one who could express a 
nation's pains or pleasures in his own coun- 
tenance ; his enchanting tones of voice, were 
ever variable, like earthly and sphere notes 
mingled ; he arose to speak like an armed man, 
and sat down in conclusion, with the calmness 
and dignity of a conqueror. 

Immortal Henry ! father of American orators! 
pioneer patriot in the cause of thy country's 
independence ! Whenever the fame of American 
eloquence is recalled to memory by posterity, 
the fame of Patrick Henry will send the first 
if not the deepest thrills of delight through its 
heart. Whenever another demi-angelic nation 
now bowed down by oppression iuay yet raise 
U^ its injured form, and bid its oppressors go 



14 

hence, his image will rise to view like an 
unearthly light, and as an omen of approaching 
triumph. Whenever an American loses I'or a 
moment his faith in her cause, and his de- 
votion to her principles, the voice that cavised 
the house of burgesses to warm up at its sound, 
till the hearts of millions melted into one, will 
pierce his soul with the shout of "Liberty or 
death." Whenever Americans forget his name, 
and remember him no more, Ibiil and bloody 
fields will again blot their country's surface, 
and universal tyranny will again tread on the 
neck of scarred and fallen liberty. AVhcnever 
a repixblic becomes so proudly prosperous, as 
to feel careless in regard to the memory of her- 
early founders, of her wisest and best men, and 
of her death-stricken patriots, the brightness 
and length of her day will grow dimmer and 
shorter, till that darkness comes which shall 
remain unbroken. Whenever American sward 
shall be redyed, and her waters recrimsoned 
with the gore of her loving children, slain on 
her own pure bosom, and in her own maternal 
defence, should that once valiantly experienced 
scene ever return, her inheritors if worthy of 
their origin, will retriumph in her cause or die 
with it. Whenever the fame of one who rose 
in speech, and the proud Parsons fled ; who 
rose again, and his country claimed a Pericles; 
again, and British tyranny throughout America 
shrieked in death ; is deemed unworthy of 
treasurable notice, or deserving of only an 
indifferent tribute, the finger that turned the 
dead rock on Smai's summit to a living oracle 
of divinity, will be pointed at us smitingly ; and 
the eye that saw the laAv of Paradise broken, 
will turn to us frowningly. The deep future 



15 

will embrace liis memory, the latest age will 
rejoice in it ; nor will it be lost to the world, 
till the world is lost to American liberty. 

Mr. Henry's character in every jaosition ol" 
life, was a high and honest credit to his coiintry. 
He was the righthand friend of human free- 
dom and of universal rights, a famous pattern 
of social purity, and a demi-angel among men. 
His essential services to his country in her very 
moment of fearfulest peril ; his comprehensive 
patriotism and well known decided unbending 
and abiding fidelity to the cause of republican- 
ism ; his Melancthonian purity of motive in 
any course he marked out for himself, or cause 
he espoused, elicited from distinguished sources 
testimonials of hearts sent and head sanctioned 
approbation and grateful esteem. Like Tliem- 
istocles, he resolved to serve his country as a 
son should serve his sire, nor sought ibr other 
rewards, than the reflection that he had per- 
formed some services which contributed to her 
special benefit and well being. " Iho bum pub- 
lico ad iiifinitum," was his maxim as a states- 
man; and no man illustrated and expounded 
the meaning of his precepts more I'ully than 
did he by nearly every public and private act. 
Ele feared consolidation of power from the 
forming of a constitution, vesting such wide 
extended powers and influence in the hands of 
a few^, as he believed the introduction of the 
Constitution of the United States would, and 
if he erred in opposing its ratification Ibr this 
and similar reasons, then surely it was an er- 
ror which is attributable to an excess, rather 
than to a want of cautious, zealous patriotism 
and anxiety for the permanency of the republic. 
How rare ! how very rare is it to meet with a 
statesman, however much good he may do, or 



16 

benefit confer on his country generally, in his 
political capacity, to find him withal and above 
all a man of social purity and of exemplary hab- 
its in private life ! How rare! how very rare is 
it to find public men proiessing loyalty to a na- 
tion redeem what they profess alike at the 
meridian blaze of its prosperity, and at the 
midnight gloom of its adversity ! and likewise, 
to find them ever just, because generously rea- 
sonable, and ever reasonable because generous- 
ly just. Constituents can not engage them- 
selves more usefully, nor expend some portion 
of their means more profitably, nor employ 
their time more agreeably, than in proffering 
appropriate tokens of regard, and of their high 
appreciation of distinguished services faithful- 
ly rendered by those who have represented 
them and their interests loyally in whatever 
public capacity they may have been placed; it 
is like the revival of good old times, when 
Olympian victors and champioiis received the 
expressions of high consideration and regard 
from their friends and admirers in returning 
from their renowned games ; or when the wise 
men of Greece and the sages of antiquity, af- 
ter having traveled and taught their far-famed 
systems of philosophy abroad, and performed 
acts which redounded to the credit of their be- 
loved and native country, received on their re- 
turn marks and testimonials of eminent favor, 
and valuable tokens of esteem from their grate- 
ful and honored countrymen, which were pre- 
sented to them in a manner, and with an appro- 
priateness that brought unalloyed felicity to 
the united hearts of ten thousand bosoms. All 
but God may err, therefore no one error of a 
great statesman, not wilfully premeditated and 
perpetrated, should at all lessen him in the 



17 

true regard of his immediate constituents, or 
of the country generally, or even cause a fall- 
ing away of just admiration and esteem tor 
those jiast services which he may have per- 
formed, and that entwine around his name, 
memory and character, and which endear 
him to the multitudes whom his labors have 
benefited. 

Mr. Henry was an orator. He was the great- 
est American orator of his age, and as a ready 
extempore, natural speaker, he stands perhaps 
unapproached by any age. He was born with 
the powers and faculties of an orator, and he 
developed them amply with forty years of un- 
ceasing discipline. Nature was his oratorical 
model, his oratorical instructor, and his only 
oratorical master. Men it is said, often lost 
their self-control while listening to him ; for 
they would smile when he smiled, weep when 
he wept, defy when he defied, and resolve when 
he resolved, in his addressing them. And so 
absolute and complete was his control over his 
audience, that he seemed indeed as nature's 
own cho.sen Nestor. He did not speak as though 
art had made him an' orator, but as though na- 
ture herself had made him what he was ; nor 
would he give art the credit that was due only 
to nature. He was a noble son of nature, 
liberty's beloved brother, and father of the 
American Revolution. As liberty has existed 
in the bosom of humanity since the creation of 
the latter, and though at distant, yet suitable 
periods, will burst loose, though world-bound, 
assert its name and act out its nature ; so elo- 
quence, which is and has been an element of 
constitutional humanity since the air of heaven 
first inflated the lungs of man, occasionally 
springs out boldly from the growing ranks of 



18 

the oft-times benighted generations, asserts an 
admirable supremacy and a controlling influ- 
ence along the files of the centuries. Men 
should unceasingly cultivate the faculties and 
art of eloquence, as well lor the delightful emo- 
tions it attbrds, as for the great uses, objects and 
ends it subserves in preserving and propagating 
every good cause and gracious cvistom. True 
eloquence is found in head-conceived, heart- 
warmed, and well expressed truths. Some 
men's eloquence is that of sensation, and 
others is that of emotion ; the lormer is start- 
ling, the latter is soothing ; and when both are 
well joined in the same person, that person's 
power of eloquence has reached a high round 
towards oratorical perfection. A true orator 
rises in native majesty, and the surrounding- 
tumult ceases instantly ; speaks with his vocal 
thunders, and his listeners bow in obedience to 
his mandates ; raises his arm of accomplished 
jesture, and the hearts of his beholders for a 
moment cease to beat ; rolls his entrancing eye, 
and all eyes sparkle at his electric glance ; his 
words are flying pencils of every color and 
skill ; his thoughts are living portraits of every 
shape and size ; his actions are resistless argu- 
ments to the most obstinate observers ; his ob- 
ject is to reform the wayward, to advance the 
reformed, and to perlect all advancement. 

Mr. Henry's official conduct, as first Gover- 
nor of the Commonwealth ot Virginia, was 
well received through the States generally, and 
gave additional lustre to his reputation as a 
statesman. He was cautious, yet not tamely 
timid ; firm, yet not wilfully stubborn ; dis- 
patchful, yet not rashly precipitous ; just, yet 
not scrupulous beyond good sense ; and many 
of the highest qualities belonging to human 



19 

nature were strikingly developed even in his 
character as a practical statesman. He govern- 
ed, so that at the expiration of his term of 
office, those for whose weal he had accepted 
power and place could not honestly feel them- 
selves wronged by his actions, or deceived in 
the coniidence they had reposed in a fellow 
commonwealthman. His terms of governor- 
ship were characterized by discretion and mo- 
deration by public enterprise and State prosper- 
ity, and by a rapid increase of State credit. 
His repeated and unsolicited elevation to this 
high and useful position, is the best proof of his 
transcendent capacity to conduct aftairs of State 
creditably to himself and to his constituency. 

A ruler's first duty is obedience to the laws of 
State. His next duty is to see that every other 
citizen obeys them likewise, and if any law is 
confessedly bad to seek repealation quickly, ra- 
ther than its disobedience at all. Numerous 
divisions of legislative, judicial and executive 
powers, are necessary to preserve a healthy or- 
ganization of State government ; also frequent 
changes of persons who occupy the higher 
places in State Administration, is a great pre- 
ventive of the abuse, arising from any thing like 
hereditary State rulership. Our knowledge of 
statesmanship, as a science, like our knowledge 
of most of the sciences, is yet in its first growth ; 
nor can men reasonably look for its full maturiy 
in any inconsiderable length of time to come. 
A system of government so complete as to ren- 
der it all but impossible for a nation living up 
to it strictly, to fall from the highest republican 
plain and standard ; a system built and stand- 
ing on enlarged, yet prudent experiments, al- 
ways strengthened and never weakened by 
every successive experiment, gaining solidity 



20 

and power steadily, and firmly keeping them 
when gained ; hazarding nothing unreasonably, 
yet reasonably venturing every thing for the 
substantial good of men ; will amply and en- 
tirely repay all reflection given to it, and expe- 
rimental labor performed on it, though it should 
require more years than have yet rolled away, 
since the dawn of humanity on the earth, to 
effect its consummation. 

The permanency of a governmental system 
seems to depend, on the fact whether the 
majority will or will not support it ; unless, 
indeed, the power of armies and navies can be 
readily interposed by the minority ; nor can it 
be upheld any considerable time by these 
stringent and unnatural means of its support. 
Even the finest system of government covxld 
not remain stable and secure, while it tended 
in general not to give the balance of its popu- 
lation, that is to say, its agriculturists, its 
tradesmen, its mechanics, and laborers gene- 
rally, a fair if not an inviting chance to acquire 
a comfortable sustenance if not a fine com- 
petency by due industry and perseverance and 
by the exercise of judgment and skill in their 
rcsjiective callings. Education, capacity, and 
genius, though they may seem, on a superficial 
examination, as tending to permanent and 
destructive inequality, yet they will be found 
on correct analysis tending to an ultimate and 
preserving equality through a nation ; for their 
possession is of little good to a man unless he 
uses them, and he can not use them without 
influencing others directly, by which means an 
entire state and even all humanity may be 
favorably impressed ; therefore every step of 
individual improvement and advancement how- 
ever bold and novel in its nature, and though 



21 

positively producing an equality of attainment 
between men at first, will nevertheless by and 
by elevate the great masses of humanity by its 
general diftusion. Mankind knew but a moiety, 
as it were, of human and divine philosophy 
till the ancient seers, Pythagoras, Conlucius and 
I'^ocrates revealed it to them. Mankind knew 
but little of the power and practical use of true 
oratory, in promoting and preserving state 
prosperity, till Pericles, Demosthenes and 
Cicero appeared among them. Homer, Virgil, 
Shakspeare and Milton rose above their times 
and left their respective ages behind them. 
Bacon, Locke and Gall haA'e opened a self- 
illumining path of endless general advance- 
ment and improvement by their bold researches 
in the science of mind. Mankind knew but 
little, and that little was the very false faced- 
ness of vaguery as to the real nature and 
character of the heavens, till the advent of 
Galileo, Copernicus, Newton and Herschel 
on the earth. Now, each of these men by the 
very superiority of their genius, produced an 
inequality, in point of mental power and 
attainments, between them and their cotem- 
poraries, wide as the east fi-om the west. Not- 
withstanding all this, successive generations 
through the special agencies of books, of lec- 
tures, and of instructive diagrams, illustrative 
of their works, and of the works and improve- 
ments of their followers, have produced ten 
thousand fold greater equality between these 
distinguished spirits and the present age, than 
existed between them and the ages in which 
they lived and flourished, because all which they 
knew and taught has since been so generallv 
studied and acquired by succeeding generations. 
Mr. Henry was especially gifted with a 



oo 



conversational talent of the richest and most 
attractive cast. Charming indeed was his 
companionship, charming were all topics of 
general or particular converse rendered by his 
very felicitous touch. His pure and lovely 
smile, his bright yet mildly set eye, his expres- 
sive and benign countenance, his graceful and 
familiar jesture, his entire ease and gentleness 
of manner, his proverbial respect ibr the finest 
feelings of all in his presence, his eminent and 
vividly descriptive ability, his happy mode of 
relating illustrative anecdotes, and of appro- 
priately interspersing them through a conver- 
sation, his native simplicity of language, his 
glowing, tinting, luxuriant, and even embla- 
zoning imagination and fancy, gave him a 
power and sweeping influence in the circles of 
social life. He was beloved by his family, as 
his family only could love a consummate hus- 
band and father ; by his familiar friends and 
acquaintances he was beloved as brothers love 
a brother ; and distinguished travelers and 
strangers who visited him to ofi'er their tributes 
of respect, admiration, and veneration at the 
shrine of living greatness, ever left his abode 
with the happifying heart feeling, that they had 
found another friend, and formed a cherishable 
friendship with a great, a good and a lovely 
spirit. A man who is endowed with faculties 
fitting him to embellish social life, may impart 
to society a tone of rationality, of religious 
elevation, and of private purity ol' manners, 
thought and feelings almost beyond credibility. 
An anti-Upas tree imparts health in lieu of 
disease through a land ; thus a man of pure 
social converse and habits, diffuses happiness 
instead of misery, through the community 
which he inhabits and influences. 



23 

As star beams mingling with soft lunar raj's. 

Shed o'er the earth their beauty ; thus social joys 

Joined with purest feelings, throw o'er life 

Mantles of softest bliss; luishing all outward strife, 

Bewildering to manhood, still challenged by the hope 

Of earthly glory. 

Morning zephyrs cooling the blushing cheek 

Awake the soul, and bid the tongue to speak 

In praise of social joy ; noonday's genial breeze. 

Touching melodious harp strings gently leaves 

Listners in social harmony ; then evening airs 

Breathe forth their sacred lays, till half the world repairs 

To rest in social bosoms. 

Purity of thought, loftiness of feeling, and a 
truthful conversation, are three things which 
ought to distinguish every man who mingles 
with any society. The conversation of friends 
is a chalice filled with ingredients purer than 
light, nourishing as truth, delicious as love, 
and all heavenizing to the heart. The instruc- 
tive conversation of a virtuous man is as 
balm of Gilead to a heart bruised by vice 
andpainfully forlorn. Social vices need their 
healing asylums as much as mono mania ; and 
social virtues are the cordial restoratives for 
both. A pure and noble spirit when it gives its 
presence to society, in whatever capacity and 
duty it may appear, elevates and ennobles the 
feelings and bearing of all who listen to it, or 
behold it; as Orpheus when in the company of 
others, purified and delighted their souls with 
his celestial strains, and spiritual expression of 
countenance. 

Mr. Henry's junior years, to all outward ap- 
pearance, passed away as did Shakspeare's, in 
rather an unconcerned ease, yet, no doubt, with 
the restless secret workings of genius within. 
His senior years were employed as were Fene- 
lon's, chiefly in pious reflection, in entertain- 
ing friends, and in useful general reading. At 



24 

his birth his country was groping its low way 
beneatli Erebic oppression ; at his death it 
was soaring on tlie highway of an Elysian 
liberty. His genius protected and honored 
America, and America will honor and protect 
his genius. He lived and labored tor the 
prosperity of his country, and his country in 
its highest prosperity will hold him in grateful 
and fatherly recollection. His fame is such 
that neither eulogy can elevate it, nor marble 
pevpetuate it, nor history add one atom or unit 
to its massive glory ; for it is enthroned in the 
American heart, and it dwells in the American 
memory. 



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